Dec. 31, 2008

Box Score

Providence, R.I. - The Providence College men's basketball team (9-4, 1-0) defeated St. John's University (9-4, 0-1) by a score of 75-54 on Wednesday, December 31 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The New Year's Eve win was the first BIG EAST victory for PC Head Coach Keno Davis who joins Gordy Chiesa and Rick Barnes as the only Friar coaches to win their league debuts. Senior Randall Hanke (New York, N.Y.) paced PC with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and added three blocks.

"We were playing good defense which led to easy baskets and transition points," Hanke said. "My teammates did a great job looking for me and I finished around the hoop."

St. John's opened the game on a 11-0 run but Providence quickly responded with seven-straight points to cut the lead to 11-7 at the 13:53 mark of the first half. After three-consecutive baskets by PC, the Friars surged ahead, 24-17, with 5:25 to go in the half. A Marshon Brooks (Stone Mountain, Ga.) three-pointer pushed the lead to 29-19, and two-straight lay-ups by Hanke gave the Friars a 33-25 halftime lead.

Providence played excellent defense in the first half, forcing 13 turnovers and grabbing eight steals and St. John's was held to 39.3 percent shooting for the stanza. Brooks led the Friars in the half with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting.

A three-pointer by Jeff Xavier (Pawtucket, R.I.) and a lay-up by Jonathan Kale (Mattapan, Mass.) on consecutive possessions pushed the Friar lead to 40-27 with 18:01 remaining in the game. Senior Weyinmi Efejuku (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) swished a three to make the score 50-39 at the 9:27 mark. Junior Sharaud Curry added a three-pointer to move the Friars ahead, 55-42, with 7:37 to go and a Hanke three-point play put the score at 60-47. PC took its largest lead, 75-52, on a Kale lay-in with 1:22 remaining in the game.

Curry registered 16 points and eight assists and Brooks added 15 points and three steals for Providence.

The Friar defense was dominant throughout the game, as St. John's was limited to 35.4 percent shooting (23-65), including 11.8 percent (2-17) from three-point range. The Red Storm's 54 point output was the team's lowest of the season and marks the lowest point total for a Friar opponent this year.

PC's win was the seventh straight against St. John's at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Paris Horne and Sean Evans led the Johnnies with 16 points each.

The Friars continue their BIG EAST schedule with a 7:00 p.m. contest against DePaul on Saturday, January 3 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Tickets can be purchased by calling (401) 865-GOPC.